Possibly you have paid too much for your computer if was bought in the last five years. The Euopean Commission suspects that 13 manufacturers of optical drives and two OEMs have fixed prices ”of the worst kind” in the form of rigged biddings.
The European Commission will start an investigation of 13 manufacturers of optical drives and two OEMs (anonymous until further notice). The reason is price fixing and rigged tenders for maintaining high prices. What this means is that the cartel has set predetermined prices of their units before bidding even started, to get a guaranteed price that is in their favor.
The cartel between the involved PC builders and manufacturers of optical units have been going on for at least five years and affected all forms of complete systems; from desktops to notebooks and even servers. The European Commission is not keen on these kind of affairs, and considers the worst of antitrust actions. Parties that are convicted may be forced to pay damages up to 10 percent of their annual revenue.
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